NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1046, 1 November 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Commemorative Soiree. —A soiree commemorative of the opening of St. Paul’s new Presbyterian Church will be held this evening in the Oddfellows’Hall. Tea will be on the tables at half-past 6 o’clock. Addresses appropriate to the occasion will be delivered during the evening. West Coast Mail. —The mails from the West Coast did not reach town last evening, owing, no doubt, to the flooded state of the rivers on both sides of the ranges. While only one short shower of rain fell in Christchurch on Wednesday morning, rain fell heavily in Timaru, and all the rivers to the north are in a state of flood, partially owing to the melting of the snow on the mountains. Cricket. —The annual match between the colts and an eleven who have represented the province will be played on the 9th and 10th November, commencing at 10.30 a.m. on the first day and at 2 p.m. on the latter. The following are the sides—Eleven: Messrs Alington, Alpe, Ashby, J. Fowler, E. Fowler, Frith, Fuller, Godby, Leach, Lee, Moore, Neilson, Sweet (captain), and Watson. The Colts : Messrs Ollivier (captain), Allen, Atack, Beaumont, E. Cotterill, W. Cotterill, Cuff, Deacon, Dickinson, Fairhurst, Gibson, Horner, jun., Hunt, Izard, Loughnan, Mac Donnell, Mathias, Morice, Morrison, Parker, Reeder, Skelton, Turner G., Turner G, A., and A. C. Wilson. Wesleyan Home Mission.— A public meeting in connection with the Home Mission and Church Extension Fund of the Wesleyan Church, was held in the Durham street church last night. Mr F. J. Garrick occupied the chair. The Rev. Mr Worker read the report of the Home Mission for the year, showing that £1768 had to be provided, and that there were deficiencies amounting to £164. Addresses pointing out the great importance of the mission work were delivered by the Rev. W. Morley and the Rev. A. R. Fitchett. During the evening several hymns were sung by the choir, and a collection was made at the end of the services. Obituary. —On August 4th, at No. 4, Stanfield Cottages, Bullingdon’s road, Oxford, England, after a short illness, Jane, wife of Mr John Varyer, aged fifty-seven years. —In a notice of the death of this lady, the “Akaroa Mail” says: —“Mrs Varyor was one of the original Canterbury pilgrims. Mrs Yaryer, in company with her husband, came out in the pioneer ship the Charlotte Jane, and was the only lady of the party who left England to establish our contemporary the ‘ Lyttelton Times.’ Of that original party there is now but one left in Canterbury, and that one is Mr George Tayler, of Lyttelton. Old Canterbury settlers will remember Mr Yaryer’s connection with the infancy of printing here. After residing in this province for some years, Mrs and Mr Yaryer returned to England, where, we believe, Mr Y. still follows his profession as a printer.” Volunteer Fire Brigade. —The quarterly meeting of the Christchurch Brigade was held last evening. The principal business was to arrange for the annual torchlight procession. It was proposed and seconded that the torchlight procession be held on Anniversary Day, and that the display of fireworks should take place on Latimer square instead of in the market place. After a long discussion as to the mode in which funds should bo raised, i! was decided that subscription lists should be opened. Two members were appointed to canvass each quarter of the city, j It was thought that 2s 6d from the ivau-r j would cover the expenses. The secretary informed the meeting that the cost last year amounted to £OO 17s 7d, which did not include cue labour given by members for several weeks previous. Mr Superintendent Harris was appointed treasurer for the torchlight fund.

Lowey Bay Estate. —The “ New Zealand Times” understands that the Lowry Bay Estate has been purchased privately for £35( 0 by Mr Sinclair, of Wainuiomata, in conjunct tion with two other gentlemen whose name did not transpire. The Late Goveenment. —The Wellington correspondent of the Auckland “ Herald 1 ’ makes the following reference to members of the late Ministry:—lt is said that Mr Whitaker would not accept office again, and Mr McLean declared that a bullock team would not draw him into a seat on the Government benches again. Dr Pollen does not care for any more Upper House work, and should the Opposition once more get in Mr Bowen is named as the new “lord.” Old Colonists. —Another old colonist, Mr Robert Lambert, has died suddenly at Wellington. The deceased arrived about the year 1845, and for many years was employed as clerk in the firm of Messrs W. M. Bannatyne and Co. Eor some time past he has been living independently. Mr Lambert was one of the oldest Freemasons in the colony, and had been elected Master of the Pacific Lodge on several occasions, And was well known to all local members of the craft here. Deceased was about sixty-five years of age, and unmarried. Mrs Tonks, widow of the late Mr W. Tonks, Wellington, has also died. The deceased lady, who had reached the age of seventy-four, was with her late husband amongst the early settlers, having arrived in 1842. Rates of Insusance. —At several joint meetings of the insurance companies recently held in Auckland, at which representatives of the New Zealand, South British, Imperial, National, Union, Royal, Standard, Yictoria, Norwich Union, Northern, Liverpool London and Globe, Batavia, and Transatlantic, were pre - sent, the several agents discussed at length the present tariff of rates, and concluded to considerably alter them. A final meeting of the agents was held on Monday afternoon, when it is understood resolutions were agreed to to bring in the amended scale from the Ist inst. Through the kindness of the agent of the Imperial Insurance Company, we (“ N. Z. Herald ”) were enabled to have a look at the new tariff, and believe it has been framed with a view of dealing even-handed justice to the whole body of insurers. Ministeeial Speeches. —The Grey Ministry have illustrated their liberality and their worldly wisdom by initiating the practice of freely furnishing the newspapers with reports even of debates, the habit hitherto having been only to telegraph the financial or departmental statements. And they and their friends have gone a step further by anticipating or competing with “Hansard.” The following advertisement appears in the Wellington papers:—“ Sir George Grey’s important speech in the House of Representatives on Friday last will be published by Messrs Lyon and Blair to-morrow. Price— One penny. It is considered desirable that this interesting exposition of the state of the Public Finances of the colony, and the views taken by its eminent author of the state of political parties existing in the House, should be read and considered by all New Zealand settlers.” Eccenteic Education. —As to the mode of teaching geography practised in the Tapanui school the Rev. Mr Bett is reported to have said at the meeting of school committee the other day : —“ He would refer to one more of the subjects not taught in the school, geography. He had the best authority for stating this branch had not been taught for a length of time. His own boys had only received two lessons since February. He would mention one thing in connection with the master’s teaching of geography. It would perhaps make them laugh, but it had a serious as well as a ludicrous side. Three boys were made to represent Turkey, Italy, and the Adriatic. The boy representing Turkey (a turkey cock) gabbled, Italy danced about, and the Adriatic moved up and down. [Loud laughter.] If that was the way geography was taught in school, he did not want Ins boys to learn geography.” Malapeopos Compaeison. —Mr Fox, in the course of his speech in the no confidence debate, said he was never more amused than when Sir George Grey likened himself to a poor innocent little lamb. Of all animals that run, walk, fiy, or crawl, he considered that should be the last one to which the hon. the Premier should liken himself. Had he likened himself to a lion, or some voracious animal coming down on the Ministerial benches, that would have been more feasible. He continued by saying that one part of the Grey Ministry’s policy was to be lavish in their promises. There was nothing too great, nothing too good, nothing to be too much desired, to be promised to those whose support would be accorded. Shakspere gave an admirable picture of such men. He would read them a few lines of the speech delivered by Jack Cade to his followers :— “ Cade— Be brave then ; for your captain is brave, and vows reformation. There shall be, in England, seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny ; the three hooped pot shall have ten hoops ; and I will make it felony to drink small beer: all the realm shall be in common, and in Cheapside shall my palfry go to grass. I thank you, good people; there shall be no money; all shall eat and drink on my score ; and I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers, and worship me their lord.—Dick —The first thing wo do, let’s kill all the lawyers. — Cade — Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable tiling, that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be made parchment?” And hero was found the innocent lamb cropping up again.